Whilst you are at work the company or business that employs you is responsible for your health and safety. Therefore if you suffer an accident at work or develop an illness, such as asthma or a skin condition, due to your work then you can claim compensation.

The Employersa�� Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act makes it a legal requirement for all businesses and companies to have insurance cover of at least A?5 million in case any employees suffer an accident whilst at work and need to claim compensation for the bodily injury sustained as a result of the accident.

The reason that it is compulsory for businesses and companies to have liability insurance is so that even if the company or business closes down or goes bankrupt, a worker who has suffered an accident whilst at work can still make a compensation claim for suffering the bodily injury or the occupational illness.

The law says that the employera��s liability insurance company cannot refuse to pay compensation to the worker because of failings by the business or company because this would defeat the object of having the compulsory insurance. The liability insurance is there for the benefit of the workers to ensure that there is compensation available to them for injuries suffered at work and not for the benefit of the business.

Employees are entitled to read a copy of the insurance certificate and the law does say that a copy of the insurance certificate must be displayed where workers can read it.

The compulsory liability insurance applies to apprentice workers, agency workers, part-time workers and also to students on unpaid work experience placements.

Sometimes companies attempt to argue that a worker is not an employee and is self-employed and does not have the benefit of the compulsory employera��s liability insurance. In practice, the insurance cover will apply to most situations, even if there is no written contract of employment, and it will only not apply if a worker is genuinely self-employed.

The governmenta��s workplace safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive, will prosecute a business in the magistratesa�� courts if it fails to have in place employers liability insurance.

It should be noted that there are different rules applying to public liability insurance, that is, insurance cover for the benefit of members of the public (not employees of the business) who sustain bodily injury.

The law applying to Great Britain: the Employersa�� Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969

Due to the high cost of houses and flats home ownership is out of reach of a lot of people and the waiting lists grow longer for social housing provided by local authorities and housing associations.A�Consequently, there has been a big increase in the number of homes rented by private landlords.

Unlike homes that are rented in the social housing sector most private rental properties are let out at market rates and are expensive.A�However, it is estimated that over a third of private rented homes fail to meet the a�?decent homes standarda�? set by the government for the social housing sector.

As the demand for rental properties has grown many people have been priced out of decent homes and have been forced to accept poor quality housing just to keep a roof over their heads.

The government advises that people living in rented or shared accommodation are 7 times more likely to suffer a fire accident in the home.A�Electrical accidents are the main cause of accidental domestic fires and during 2010 it is estimated by the government that there wereA�more than 20,000 accidental electrical fires in homes.

All landlords have legal obligations to ensure the safety of their tenants.A�There is no legal requirement for a landlord to pay for a yearly safety inspection of the electrical installations and appliances provided in a rental property, however it is said to be recommended safe practice for the landlord to pay for a suitably qualified electrician to carry out a safety inspection of the electrical installation and the electrical appliances at least once every 5 years. Ask the landlord to provide a copy of the electrical safety certificate for the rental property.

Before you accept a tenancy agreement also ask to see the gas safety certificate for the rental property.A�The law does require the landlord at least once every 12 months to pay for a Gas Safe engineer to safety test the gas appliances, such as the boiler for the hot water and heating system, to make sure that they are operating properly.

There is no legal requirement for a landlord to install a carbon monoxide gas detector, however you could ask for at least one to be provided.A�Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that leaks from faulty gas appliances, however it has no taste or smell and you only know that it is leaking by using a carbon monoxide gas detector device.A�Household stores and DIY shops sell carbon monoxide detectors for about A?15 – A?20.

For ordinary rental properties there is no legal obligation on a landlord to install smoke detector devices, however, it is seen as good practice for a smoke detector to be installed on every floor of a rented home.

The local fire brigade will carry out a free home fire risk assessment by visiting your home and preparing a report on potential fire risks and advising on reducing or preventing the risks.A�The fire brigade may install smoke detectors free of charge.

Landlords are always responsible for paying for repairs to the rental propertya��s structure and the outside of the property. The landlord is also responsible for paying for repairs needed to basins, sinks, toilets and also pipes and drains, heating and hot water and also electrical wiring and installation.

If you report in writing to your landlord that repairs are needed and your landlord fails to do anything then you should ask your local councila��s environmental health department for help.A�Your local council will help you deal with the landlord if the repairs that are needed present a risk to your health or safety.